Citrus Trees

leapgirl(8bMS/Biloxi)August 19, 2004

Does anyone here have recommendations/experience with citrus trees in the ground on the Mississippi Gulf Coast-zone 8b? We're new to the coast and have a great area along the east side of our house where we'd like to plant an orange or tangerine, a lemon and a lime. How about grapefruit - any luck with these in our area?

Welcome, I live in Vancleave and have had good success with citrus. I have all but grapefruit. They like plenty of sun but can get by with 4-6 hours. The only problem that I have is whiteflies. I hate to spray but that's the easiest way to control them. I give them a little 13-13-13 in the spring and several good handsfull of pelletted lime. I held off planting citrus for fear of freezing but they have been in the ground for about 7 or 8 years and are doing very well.
Lynn

Hi, I have a lemon tree. I have had it planted for around 8 years I guess. It does great and I don't have a green thumb. The lemons it turns out are huge. Although I have had problems with some kind of black mold looking fungus on it, like I said I don't have a green thumb. We live right on the coast and during the winter if it gets down to far below freezing we usually throw a tarp over it. Not sure how anyone else deals with freezing conditions.

Meyer lemon and persian lime in Hattiesburg. My lime tree is on the south side of a small white woodsided house about 20 ft above a small creek. I grew it in a pot for several years then finally planted it in the ground. Gets top growth killed by frost each year, but new growth comes out and blooms in Spring. Usually retains some leaves through the winter. Have to spray with oil for whiteflys. The meyer lemon takes similar culture here. Both have large wonderful fruit. My lemon is still in a pot and I took it in this winter for a few weeks, but will put it in the ground in a couple more years once the trunk thickens up. A friend in Bogalousa has grapefruit every year from seed (a commercial grapefruit) I have seen the plant and eaten grapefruit from it. It is on a south facing board fence. I expect all citrus here will be killed everytime we get an unusually cold winter (below 15 deg). Obviously the secret to getting fruit is to have a variety that blooms late, after all frosts. Oh, Kumquats do great here! Have had mine for years. They are in pots in the yard but I never give them any winter protection. They will get killed back severly every now and then but have always come back. I should add that a wonderful side benefit of citrus are the beautiful, sweet smelling flowers. You can even cook with the lime leaves and use the stems for swizzle sticks.

I live in north Bossier Parish, Louisiana near Shreveport and I have 2 orange trees (one Valencia and one Louisiana Sweet) and my trees are now about 15 ft tall. They produce HUNDREDS of very sweet, juicy oranges every year! People I've given them to say that they're the best oranges they've ever had! I also have a Meyer's lemon that's about 6 ft tall now and it also is VERY productive! If we can grow them here, I see no reason why you'd have trouble doing it too! I give them no special care and they are healthy and VERY productive!